We’ve got a monthly round-up of the hard-hitting actions against Etsy! Send your action reports at [email protected] to be included in March’s recap!
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
On February 4, 2026, animal rights activists in Salt Lake City showed up outside Square Financial Services to kick off CAFT’s Etsy campaign with a powerful public demonstration urging Marla Blow to use her position on the board of Etsy to commit to a fur free policy. While we were there, people inside the building came out to talk with us, and people on the street stopped to ask questions. Those conversations allowed us to educate many people about the horrendous cruelty and unimaginable suffering of the animals exploited and tortured in the fur industry, and Etsy’s ties to it. They were all clearly horrified and deeply upset by what they learned, as any decent human should be.
We’re going to keep showing up and keep speaking out against the barbaric fur trade. That means continuing to hold demonstrations exposing Marla Blow profiting from, and promoting, this extreme and unnecessary violence against innocent animals through Square Financial Services and Etsy. We may be a small group, but we’re deeply committed to ending the fur industry, and we are not backing down until we get a fur free policy!
BROOKLYN, NY
A few days after the launch of the Etsy campaign, NY Hates Fur immediately rose to the occasion and did what we do best: be loud and annoying for the animals. Etsy’s headquarters is on our home turf in NYC so we know how important it is to show up consistently. We rolled up to the front doors with megaphones, vuvuzelas, and whistles. To our surprise, none other than Rafe Colburn, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Etsy, was strolling back inside the lobby presumably after his lunch break, as we were beginning the protest. We directed all of our attention at him and started yelling his name. He was forced to wait for the elevator near the glass windows as we shouted at him to take action and use his influence to make Etsy fur-free. He seemed surprised that we knew his name and was smiling uncomfortably. Well, if you don’t want to be called out, then use your power for good and to help animals.
We poured fake blood all over the ground and reminded Etsy employees that they have blood on their hands as long as they continue to give a platform to the fur industry. There are offices with floor to ceiling windows located just above the front door and we cleared everyone out. Many employees came to the windows to peek at the commotion and we took the opportunity to point at them and let them know what we think about fur. In NYC, we are organizing weekly protests at the headquarters of Etsy. Come join us and get involved. If you have the privilege of living near the headquarters of Etsy, and you care about ending the fur industry, then you need to come to our demos asap! The more the merrier and the animals need us to speak up.
CHARLOTTE, NC
Charlotte activists held a protest at Honeywell headquarters on 2/9 asking them to cut ties with board member Marc Steinberg, due to his support for the vile fur industry. Marc Steinberg currently sits on the board of Etsy, an online marketplace selling a significant number of fur pieces from tortured and brutally murdered animals. Activists traveled in from across North Carolina to take action on this important campaign. Though the Honeywell building is a skyscraper, our loud protest was enough to disrupt business as usual at Honeywell. Employees poured into the lobby to watch us from the window, many standing around for the entirety of our 1.5 hour demo on Honeywell’s dime. They tried to intimidate us by recording and calling the cops, but they were not successful.
The only way to end the protests is to cut ties with Marc Steinberg, or for Etsy to go fur free once and for all. It doesn’t take many people to cause meaningful disruption for our targets. Etsy claims they are “committing to a world of good,” presenting themselves as an ethical alternative to big box stores while they profit from the brutal torture and death of wild animals. “I joined this campaign because I believe in our collective power to hold companies accountable for egregious business practices through relentless, bold, strategic action. One day, we will bring the fur industry to its knees, and I’m honored to be part of this fight. Grab a megaphone, some signs, and a few friends, and you can take effective action in your city!” – Charlotte Activist
MORRISVILLE, NC
Eight activists disrupted Syneos in Morrisville, NC around 4pm Wednesday, February 11th. Two security guards were at the front desk. A dozen employees or more on the first level came out of their offices to see what was happening in the lobby. An activist placed eight identical letters out in front of the two security employees. Activists left after three minutes. Police never came!
“Ending fur at Etsy will not only help many animals, but set a precedent for online retailers that the fur on their websites won’t be there long.” – Josh from NC.
LONDON, UK
We kicked off the Etsy campaign in London with back to back disruptions and protests of Depop headquarters in London. We got dragged out of an elevator the first day, carried down an escalator the second, and finished off both afternoons by screaming at investment companies with millions of dollars of investments in Etsy that they were about to lose a lot of money!
“We might not be many, but we are mighty!” – FFUK FUR UK
(Depop has since been sold by Etsy and is no longer part of the campaign).
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Mexico City activists protested outside the Etsy office in Polanco, one of the most important business districts in the city, because the company continues to allow the sale of animal fur on its online marketplace. It was a powerful action.
We protested at the entrance of the building. Since it was covered, the noise echoed even more loudly. Soon, many people began peeking out and taking photos and videos. Some stayed inside the lobby and didn’t want to come out, and if they did, they looked annoyed. Other people gathered on the street, and there were people around the entire time. The action lasted one hour.
As we were about to finish, a coworking employee approached us to say that he and his team worked on the lower floor, while Etsy’s offices are on the top floors, and that the noise was preventing them from working. They should take it up with Etsy!
“Every great moral shift in history began with a minority who refused to look away. Animal rights activists are not the few: we are the beginning.” – Fuerza Resistencia Animal
SAN DIEGO, CA
We showed up to the Petco headquarters on a Friday and it said the lobby was closed so we left a CAFT letter there and put a rock on it for Monday. We already protested Petco headquarters last week. We decided that we were going to go to a Petco store and outreach. We were there for about an hour and some people were shocked by the abhorrent cruelty [of the fur industry] and now know about Gary Briggs, Etsy, and Petco.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
We all got up on Pinterest’s front porch first. Some security-type person (not dressed as security) stood in front of a side door. Then another came down, more exec-looking. I was far away so I didn’t hear his words, but he was pointing towards the sidewalk so I imagine he was asking us to step off their property. So they called the cops. When we saw them park across the street, we moved onto the sidewalk. Cops had no issues after that. They went inside, talked with them for a bit, then drove off. We continued the protest. During the action I had a banner back a few feet from the sidewalk so that people in the upper story offices could get a glimpse.
Our ask is for people who work here to consider their own pets. The cats and dogs that are part of their family. Imagine if someone took that pet of yours and skinned them so they could sell the pelt on Etsy. One of Pinterest’s board members is also on the board of Etsy. We are asking Pinterest to cut all ties with that person who profits from the killing of furry animals. Or for Etsy to stop selling murdered wildlife. The coyotes and foxes that get trapped and killed for Etsy’s profits are not much different than the cats and dogs people live with.
“How you would feel about Etsy selling dog fur is exactly how we feel about them selling fox fur. And we won’t stop protesting until they stop the killing of innocent wildlife.” – San Francisco Animal Defense League
WASHINGTON, DC
DC activists protested Skoll Foundation to demand that Marla Blow, President and COO, who also sits on the Board of Directors at Etsy, implement a fur-free policy at Etsy or step down from the Board. So long as she on the Board at Etsy, she has blood on her hands. And so long as she is serving as the President of Skoll Foundation, Skoll Foundation also has blood on their hands.
Due to our protests, many employees opted to use the side exit to leave the building. But a few came over to us to ask what it was all about. We told them what we were asking for and asked them to pass along the information. When we went inside, the security guard didn’t try very hard to get us to leave. He went outside and called the police. One of our newer members remarked “Security is no match for us!”
Many cops showed up and stayed inside talking to security for the duration of our protest. At one point, one asked us to move far away from the building in order to not “block the door”. But we stood our ground and informed him that we did not need to be as far as he was suggesting in order to be clear of the door. He left with no concessions from us. We aren’t sure if Marla was in the building or not. But we are positive that she is well aware that the protest took place.
PHOENIX, AZ
Arizona Activists joined the Etsy campaign protesting at Honeywell Aerospace Global Headquarters in Phoenix, AZ to urge Honeywell to cut ties with Marc Steinburg, board member at both Etsy and Honeywell because of his association with the fur industry. The action was quick but powerful! Honeywell receptionist stated “Rioters are inside my lobby.” Let’s act now to end the vile fur industry!
CANTON, MA
Activists from Chainsaw Boston protested Honeywell, a company associated with the fur trade through its board member Marc Steinberg. Two employees looked out the window and watched the protest happen. It was made clear that actions would keep happening until Marc Steinberg was removed from Honeywell’s board, or until Etsy commits to a fur free policy.
So far 14 cities and counting have joined the Etsy campaign!
Slaying it team!